century

noun

cen·​tu·​ry ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)rē How to pronounce century (audio)
plural centuries
1
: a period of 100 years
a company that has been in business for more than a century
specifically : one of the 100-year divisions of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history
the third century A.D./B.C
the 18th century
2
: a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things
3
a
: a subdivision of the Roman legion
b
: a voting unit of ancient Rome constituted according to property qualifications
4
: a race over a hundred units (such as yards, miles, or meters)

Examples of century in a Sentence

It took more than a century to complete the cathedral. The pottery dates back to the sixth century B.C.E. When the prince got married, it was called the wedding of the century.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, one of Disney’s earliest characters who predated Mickey Mouse, is back for the 21st century. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Bethlehem’s rich legacy as a historic 18th-century Moravian settlement has also earned recognition as one of the United States’ newest UNESCO World Heritage sites. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 In 1955, Hofstadter, one of the great American historians of the 20th century, published The Age of Reform—a political and social history of the years 1890 to 1940, the period of populism, progressivism, and the New Deal. — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 Growing intellectual interest in African American folklore generated fresh research into Hoodoo during the early 20th century, much of it collected by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s and ’40s. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for century

Word History

Etymology

Latin centuria, irregular from centum hundred

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of century was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing century

Rhymes for century

See All Rhymes for century

Browse Nearby Words

centurion
century
century plant
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Cite this Entry

“Century.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/century. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

century

noun
cen·​tu·​ry ˈsench-(ə-)rē How to pronounce century (audio)
plural centuries
1
: a group of 100 things
2
: a period of 100 years

More from Merriam-Webster on century

Nglish: Translation of century for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about century

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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